Thousands tune in to see the world championships

Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell

THE television broadcast of the World Pipe
Band Championships was voted an outstanding success by pipers,
drummers, officials, the public and by the BBC itself.

It recorded the biggest audience in recent
memory for this particular viewing slot with almost 500,000
viewers tuning in.

RSPBA Chief Executive Ian Embelton is now
currently in negotiations with the BBC to see if the 2007
Championships can be broadcast as well.

Ian Embelton said: "The whole exercise has
totally raised the profile of the Worlds and we may now be in a
position to capitalise on this by attracting a major sponsor."

The two DVD's of live highlights from the
2006 World Pipe Band Championships held at Glasgow Green in
August are now available from Headquarters. To order a copy
please contact Ian Embelton, 45 Washington Street, Glasgow, G3
8AZ or telephone 0141 2215414.

The Annual General Meeting of the Northern
Ireland branch of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association will
be held on Saturday November 11 in the Bridge Community Centre
Lisburn at 10.30am for 11.00am start.

This is an important meeting as rule changes
and recommendations given into the Branch will be discussed with
the view to being put forward at the Annual General Meeting in
Headquarters in March 2007.

Mervyn Herron will once again be producing
the popular pipe band calendar, which will feature dates and
events taking place within the pipe band fraternity. It is hoped
that these will be available very soon but Mervyn will take
orders now. To order telephone 028 4062 4849.

Cleland Memorial Pipe Band from Bangor are
looking for experienced and learner pipers and drummers to
compete with the band in Grade 4 next season. Contact Pipe Major
Caldwell Hamilton on 07764 893063 for details of practise nights
and times.

Chief Constable John Vine joined Tayside
Police Pipe band last weekend to celebrate the hand's promotion
to Grade 1. Tayside Police were the only RSPBA Grade 2 band to
be promoted to Grade 1 after winning the Champion of Champions
title in the grade and finishing in second place at this year's
world championship. The band also announced that Ian Duncan
would be their new Musical Director.

The 13th William Kennedy Piping Festival will
be held from November 15 to November 19in Armagh City.

As part of the Festival there will be a
special night of highland piping in Armagh City Hotel on
Thursday November 16. This Highland Piping concert is now the
most eagerly awaited event of the season with tickets usually
selling out.

This year's concert brings together two great
bands. Armagh's finest - The Killeen Pipe Band under the
leadership of Pipe Major Philip Boyce and Pipe Sergeant Derek
Boyce and the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland along with
soloists Dougie Pincock and Anna Murray. Killeen who compete in
Grade 2 are the current All Ireland Champions.

Further information is available from the
Festival website -
www.wkpf.org or by phone 3751 1248.